Problem-Solving Approaches to Justice

Tabled: 6 April 2011

This audit examined whether the Neighbourhood Justice Centre
(NJC) at Collingwood and the Court Integrated Services Program
(CISP) at the Magistrates' Court's Melbourne, Sunshine and Latrobe
Valley sites are reducing reoffending of participants and achieving
client and community outcomes. The audit also assessed whether the
two programs were based on sound evidence and whether the
Department of Justice (the department) and the Magistrates' Court
(the court) have effectively managed the programs.

While CISP demonstrably reduced
reoffending for offenders selected for an evaluation, definitive
conclusions cannot yet be made for NJC. This is primarily because
the NJC's evauation could only rely on the small number of
offenders who had completed the program. The department's public
reporting of both programs has not fairly represented the findings
from the evaluations. Data collection and analysis also need to be
addressed to improve the ability of future program evaluation in
this area.

While the department developed both
programs based on solid evidence and research, its funding
submissions could have been clearer about the programs' objectives
and performance indicators.

The department successfully managed NJC’s implementation
overall. In the early implementation of CISP, the performance of
the department and the court was mixed. Problems, such as the lack
of consultation with the court and inadequate governance
arrangements, delayed the CISP's launch. Since the initial
difficulties, the court has managed CISP effectively.